We live in an ever increasing digitally driven world. And with this lifestyle, outdated technologies are left at the wayside to make room for ever expanding advances. As the VHS was left aside for DVD, and DVD was beat out by Blu-ray, so is Blu-ray beginning its decline from its reign over the visual media world. What could possibly beat out high definition viewing, higher storage capacities per disc, and scratch protection coating?
I will tell you what. Any level of definition (based on your television/PC capability, of course), infinite storage space, and the complete elimination of any physical materials. What offers this you ask? The answer – online video streaming. With services such as Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, and of course Netflix, we are afforded the opportunity to watch almost anything our hearts desire, provided you have the internet connection required for it.
Speaking from personal experience, those of us in the geek/nerd community have many fandoms that spread across a vast variety of topics and genres. Let’s face it, with how far these things range, it is hard to find a central location to enjoy them all. And to my knowledge, there is no location that airs Doctor Who, Star Trek, Naruto, and Firefly all on the same channel. So this leaves us jumping from BBC, to Syfy, to Toonami, etc. (if such a thing exists, please do me the honor of letting me know where such a channel is).
Enter – Netflix. Granted, it doesn’t stream Naruto yet, but I think I’ll attempt to wait it out. For those unfamiliar with it, Netflix is a video streaming site founded in 1997, which has become a central location for a vast variety of movies and TV shows. For $7.99/mo, you get unlimited video streaming on any supported device, such as X-Box360/PS3, PC/Mac, mobile devices, etc. They carry tons of titles that span tons of genres. It is a great way to discover new shows or movies. Below is a list of titles that can be found on Netflix that are completely essential for any self proclaimed geek. Enjoy!
Netflix Geek Edition
Firefly
This is Joss Whedon’s brilliant space-western. This show only aired one partial season, and later had the full feature follow up Serenity. If you have not seen both of these, I am not sure you fit in the geek culture.
Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise)
You can find all the episodes of Star Trek you could ever want. Follow Gene Roddenberry’s creation with every Starfleet Captain from James Kirk through Jonathan Archer.
The Guild
This is a hilarious MMORPG based comedy starring two geek icons, Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton. Anyone who has ever stepped into the World Of Warcraft should appreciate this show.
Doctor Who (Re-boot and Classic)
This is BBC’s smash hit that ran from 1963-1989 and rebooted in 2005 and is still going strong. All the episodes from the re-boot, along with select episodes of Classic Doctor Who are available for streaming. That offers a lot of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey space travel to watch.
Sherlock
This is another BBC hit. You can find 2 seasons of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman sassing each other and solving crime. Win-Win.
Futurama
This is for the animation fans. Sci-fi + comedy + Matt Groening. If you have never watched Futurama, I have only one question. Why aren’t you watching this right now?
Battlestar Galactica
This is a Sci-Fi drama. It’s the continuation of the original series that aired in 1978 about a ragtag group of surviving humans trying to outrun the Cylons and make it to the fabled Thirteenth Colony. Plus you get Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer. It’s a solid choice for any sci-fi fan.
The Avengers
This is Joss Whedon’s 2012 Marvel smash hit. Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, and Hawkeye all team up to take on Loki. If you want to watch some of the team off on their own, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger is also available.
Hackers
This is the 1995 movie about computer hacking starring Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller. It’s a must-see for any computer/technology geek.
Fullmetal Alchemist
This is for the anime lovers. Alchemist brothers Edward and Alphonse are on the search for the Philosopher’s Stone. The original series, along with the continuation Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, are both available.
Via: www.netflix.com
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